Most Active Articles 2009-11-25T16:59:45.097-05:00 Business Exchange Business_Exchange@businessweek.com urn:com:businessweek:bx:topic:most-active:consumer-credit-spending Michael Malone mmalone523 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:14141807650022115538-9ed1e7b651d74b923c96ee5e46ec77bd 2009-11-25T11:37:58.382-05:00

During the past two years, as the economy has deteriorated, U.S. consumers have been spending less and less—in our view, partly because their access to credit has dried up. In the wake of rising unemployment, collapsing housing prices, and the...

During the past two years, as the economy has deteriorated, U.S. consumers have been spending less and less—in our view, partly because their access to credit has dried up. In the wake of rising unemployment, collapsing housing prices, and the... http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/nov2009/pi20091124_160328.htm Simon Kel skel847 1 0 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:17093169855997760302-1c620be63055a8b80ae14121caa3e9d5 2009-11-24T11:27:39.041-05:00

The number of credit cards in circulation has actually fallen, PwC said Bad credit card debts may reach as much as 9% of all outstanding balances by the end of next year, an accountancy firm has said. "Bad debts in the sector have reached historic...

The number of credit cards in circulation has actually fallen, PwC said Bad credit card debts may reach as much as 9% of all outstanding balances by the end of next year, an accountancy firm has said. "Bad debts in the sector have reached historic... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8349153.stm Simon Kel skel847 0 0 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:7852759256761755316-1c14a9112d4de8240487269d7f1d69ff 2009-11-12T13:43:53.448-05:00

Synovate Mail Monitor shows US credit card situation remains grim NEW YORK – US credit card balances increased to $8,083 in Q3 2009 from $7,489 in Q2 2009 according to Mail Monitor, the credit card direct mail tracking service from global market...

Synovate Mail Monitor shows US credit card situation remains grim NEW YORK – US credit card balances increased to $8,083 in Q3 2009 from $7,489 in Q2 2009 according to Mail Monitor, the credit card direct mail tracking service from global market... http://mailmonitor.synovate.com/news.asp?txtDate=11/12/2009&txtTarYr=2009 Lauren Young lyoung404 2 1 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:2156739804656391585-3e77b748db8c10d77e7e100c59bbcced 2009-10-30T10:35:28.746-04:00

The Credit Card industry is creating a few new fees to take more of our money!

The Credit Card industry is creating a few new fees to take more of our money! http://www.christianpf.com/new-credit-card-fees/ Bob Lotich blotich640 10 9 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:10781461663304829862-4901e6a7843b9bbc71bebcb0783f7de5 2009-10-05T16:07:02.721-04:00

The credit crunch has created an era of credit haves and have-nots. Some consumers complain that banks are ripping away credit cards, raising their rates or slashing their borrowing limits. But others say their limits have been raised and their...

The credit crunch has created an era of credit haves and have-nots. Some consumers complain that banks are ripping away credit cards, raising their rates or slashing their borrowing limits. But others say their limits have been raised and their... http://www.ihavenet.com/Personal-Finance-Understanding-Banks-New-Credit-Criteria.html Dean Mikelis dmikelis084 32 32 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:4314353211441683421-6790920919deeacb5dcd8c33a464c229 2009-10-20T12:15:02.280-04:00

Recession-damaged small and mid-sized businesses would like to extend credit to customers with little if any credit history if they could do it without great risk. Now there’s a way.

Recession-damaged small and mid-sized businesses would like to extend credit to customers with little if any credit history if they could do it without great risk. Now there’s a way. http://blogs.business.com/whatworks/2009/rate-customers-credit-history/ Daniel Kehrer dkehrer628 5 4 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:6895360023230181210-b9b391416862652a33801bac34540f76 2009-10-12T16:57:44.015-04:00

This is the story we’ve been telling here at The Daily Reckoning for two years. Americans have to cut back. They are out of time and out of money. Ten years closer to retirement than they were in before the tech stock crash, Baby Boomers are not a penny richer. Now, they’re facing a funky economy where housing prices are in decline, jobs are hard to find and lenders are reticent to lend them more money. Daddy has finally taken the T-bird away.

This is the story we’ve been telling here at The Daily Reckoning for two years. Americans have to cut back. They are out of time and out of money. Ten years closer to retirement than they were in before the tech stock crash, Baby Boomers are not a penny richer. Now, they’re facing a funky economy where housing prices are in decline, jobs are hard to find and lenders are reticent to lend them more money. Daddy has finally taken the T-bird away. http://dailyreckoning.com/consumer-credit-has-fallen-off-a-cliff/ The Daily Reckoning dreckoning339 11 10 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:11253223551241223454-8b0a3574976db27c9fcfd3e0b3243e28 2009-10-14T12:31:48.918-04:00

Women with Kids Cut Spending Most During Recession Posted by: Lauren Young on October 14 This is a cross post with the Investing Insights blog. Women with children are feeling the impact of the economic downturn most profoundly, according to a new...

Women with Kids Cut Spending Most During Recession Posted by: Lauren Young on October 14 This is a cross post with the Investing Insights blog. Women with children are feeling the impact of the economic downturn most profoundly, according to a new... http://www.businessweek.com/careers/workingparents/blog/archives/2009/10/women_with_kids.html Lauren Young lyoung404 3 2 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:11415135023465032054-164aa8d803f2c4edc4dc2c7dab6436f8 2009-10-16T11:30:13.699-04:00

Confidence among U.S. consumers fell more than forecast in October, a reminder that households remain nervous about the strength of the emerging economic recovery. The Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary index of...

Confidence among U.S. consumers fell more than forecast in October, a reminder that households remain nervous about the strength of the emerging economic recovery. The Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary index of... http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aj80mWbaVix0 Charles Dubow cdubow602 0 0 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:8259159675215313801-df874dd7c513035ff242f8cbe513064d 2009-09-29T15:57:13.396-04:00

So, kid, you're broke? Need to call home and ask for a big loan? How much do you need? Pray that Dad answers. That's a key finding of a new CreditCards.com poll that, in these credit-crunched times, looked at the generosity and attitudes of many young folks' lenders of last resort -- their parents.

So, kid, you're broke? Need to call home and ask for a big loan? How much do you need? Pray that Dad answers. That's a key finding of a new CreditCards.com poll that, in these credit-crunched times, looked at the generosity and attitudes of many young folks' lenders of last resort -- their parents. http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/dads-repay-childrens-debt-poll-1276.php Lauren Young lyoung404 2 1 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:11765555893216996579-9f0f88168e13a150bbad32ee3edffd37 2009-09-11T17:26:00.761-04:00

Credit Karma (www.creditkarma.com), the consumer's advocate for demystifying credit, today released its U.S. Credit Score Climate Report with trend data for August 2009. Credit scores continue to level off and remain stable for many consumers. 37% of consumer credit scores have increased, 29% have decreased, and 34% remained the same. The current average U.S. consumer credit score is 673.

Credit Karma (www.creditkarma.com), the consumer's advocate for demystifying credit, today released its U.S. Credit Score Climate Report with trend data for August 2009. Credit scores continue to level off and remain stable for many consumers. 37% of consumer credit scores have increased, 29% have decreased, and 34% remained the same. The current average U.S. consumer credit score is 673. http://www.creditkarma.com/about/credit_scores_remain_stable_in_august Lauren Young lyoung404 7 6 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:14772972267471407802-9e5dfa60d9e8b49feaa7bee697bd492b 2009-10-05T16:08:06.002-04:00

As banks continue to tighten the grip on borrowers, canceling home equity loans and cutting borrowing limits on credit cards, Americans are increasingly turning to a timeless source of credit: one another. Person-to-person lending, facilitated by...

As banks continue to tighten the grip on borrowers, canceling home equity loans and cutting borrowing limits on credit cards, Americans are increasingly turning to a timeless source of credit: one another. Person-to-person lending, facilitated by... http://www.ihavenet.com/Personal-Finance-Personal-Loans-With-a-Twist.html Dean Mikelis dmikelis084 1 1 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:557230009857923666-2fb3574e92cdeb99985e0800bdd10be6 2009-09-22T11:57:29.574-04:00

Let’s get this straight. Household credit is shrinking… Profits are shrinking… Employment is shrinking… Housing values are shrinking… The wage base is shrinking… But the recession is over!

Let’s get this straight. Household credit is shrinking… Profits are shrinking… Employment is shrinking… Housing values are shrinking… The wage base is shrinking… But the recession is over! http://dailyreckoning.com/saying-goodbye-to-the-borrow-and-spend-economy/ The Daily Reckoning dreckoning339 3 3 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:4220598594072059495-3e68147da9b93537123e035b4b3bcf44 2009-09-25T17:06:06.134-04:00

U.K.-based CreditCard Optimization is partnering with IATA to expand the company's visibility and reach in renegotiating on behalf of airlines for lower merchant fees. The partnership, which had its seeds in contacts made at an Association of...

U.K.-based CreditCard Optimization is partnering with IATA to expand the company's visibility and reach in renegotiating on behalf of airlines for lower merchant fees. The partnership, which had its seeds in contacts made at an Association of... http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/MERCHANT092409.xml&headline=IATA%20Targets%20Credit%20Card%20Costs&channel=comm Jim Asker jasker378 0 0 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:7554067852132048547-bfa03b571f17ffcb8b54023790d0034c 2009-09-03T12:26:14.132-04:00

How seniors buy into social media can be related to how they buy in general.

How seniors buy into social media can be related to how they buy in general. http://www.sobabyboomer.com/2009/09/marketers-evaluating-boomers-their-social-networking-behavior.html John Agno jagno444 1 0 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:3944704270805037807-17616a8ec7521c04adcb246c627f4020 2009-09-22T07:57:15.634-04:00

Video: Addicted to Spending? Money Rehab May Help

Video: Addicted to Spending? Money Rehab May Help http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8227215 Victor Ricciardi vricciardi668 0 0 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:2881711540422974478-1f8a46faa6fa40195f8b6f5f7b89d985 2009-08-06T10:01:52.662-04:00

Getting a personal bank loan may seem like a very difficult task but it has gotten much easier over the last few months. During the economic fallout of 2008, it was almost impossible to get a personal bank loan because banks were not willing to lend to anybody no matter how great their credit score was. Things have changed since then as the government is almost forcing banks to lend again and the economy has gotten somewhat better. We are still no where near in the clear as far as getting out of the recession, but it is still much better than the end of 2009.

Getting a personal bank loan may seem like a very difficult task but it has gotten much easier over the last few months. During the economic fallout of 2008, it was almost impossible to get a personal bank loan because banks were not willing to lend to anybody no matter how great their credit score was. Things have changed since then as the government is almost forcing banks to lend again and the economy has gotten somewhat better. We are still no where near in the clear as far as getting out of the recession, but it is still much better than the end of 2009. http://www.lowestrateconsolidation.com/personal-bank-loan-getting-the-low-interest-rate-you-want/ Jesse Wojdylo jwojdylo055 9 9 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:1529448910555936015-15f7f2857a2895213f5093498e14cdea 2009-09-08T14:57:26.961-04:00

Credit card companies are offering a different kind of gift: They're handing out lower interest rates, refunding interest payments, and using other strategies to provide incentives for cardholders to pay down their debt and make on-time payments. The deals, however, don't always work in consumers' favor

Credit card companies are offering a different kind of gift: They're handing out lower interest rates, refunding interest payments, and using other strategies to provide incentives for cardholders to pay down their debt and make on-time payments. The deals, however, don't always work in consumers' favor http://www.ihavenet.com/Personal-Finance-Take-Advantage-of-New-Credit-Card-Rewards.html Dean Mikelis dmikelis084 3 3 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:4402706488126927724-b20b6c77d16f52f9d5fd38bdbbb854a9 2009-09-10T13:06:07.215-04:00

Reporting from Los Angeles and Washington - The amount Americans owe on credit cards and other consumer loans plunged a record $21.6 billion in July, clouding prospects that the budding economic recovery would soon extend to Main Street.

Reporting from Los Angeles and Washington - The amount Americans owe on credit cards and other consumer loans plunged a record $21.6 billion in July, clouding prospects that the budding economic recovery would soon extend to Main Street. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-consumer-debt9-2009sep09,0,5553432.story Mike Mun mmun744 2 2 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:15772568446324316044-5a3dc723aaea5aac197165875bb00d67 2009-08-06T16:16:35.216-04:00

National Foundation for Credit Counseling’s (NFCC) Web site (www.DebtAdvice.org) includes a Financial Literacy Opinion Index which allows users to weigh in on a different financial topic each month. Thousands of consumers have responded, providing a glimpse into how Americans are handling the current economic conditions as it relates to their personal finances

National Foundation for Credit Counseling’s (NFCC) Web site (www.DebtAdvice.org) includes a Financial Literacy Opinion Index which allows users to weigh in on a different financial topic each month. Thousands of consumers have responded, providing a glimpse into how Americans are handling the current economic conditions as it relates to their personal finances http://www.debtadvice.org/NewsRoom/files/FinancialLiteracySurveyReleaseFinal2.pdf Lauren Young lyoung404 4 2 0 2 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:11056985262065929077-3fbe5761c4b9c620fe2f3868f9b123a8 2009-09-10T13:07:45.498-04:00

It is no secret that the U.S. has a consumer economy. More than 2/3 of GDP is directly derived from consumer spending. The staggering numbers in the weekly. U.S. lay-offs reports shows that the U.S. economy is shedding jobs at a Depression-like rate.

It is no secret that the U.S. has a consumer economy. More than 2/3 of GDP is directly derived from consumer spending. The staggering numbers in the weekly. U.S. lay-offs reports shows that the U.S. economy is shedding jobs at a Depression-like rate. http://seekingalpha.com/article/160791-consumer-credit-sees-record-plunge-need-another-indicator Mike Mun mmun744 1 1 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:912857466822209691-b93b52ccf982151c91938ca11ce7e0ad 2009-09-10T11:39:09.754-04:00

This recovery is wonderful in every way, except the important ones. It is like a shiny new airplane. It has glossy aluminum wings. It has plush seats in the first class section. Trim stewardesses serve drinks. Movies are available on demand in all sections.

This recovery is wonderful in every way, except the important ones. It is like a shiny new airplane. It has glossy aluminum wings. It has plush seats in the first class section. Trim stewardesses serve drinks. Movies are available on demand in all sections. http://dailyreckoning.com/a-consumer-economy-at-a-standstill/ The Daily Reckoning dreckoning339 0 0 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:9924923943797871466-4d6be5f937eb30ec1da36f5aff7f6c22 2009-02-28T08:40:22.547-05:00

Hot on the heels of the banking crisis, the employment crisis and the mortgage-foreclosure crisis, the country is on the verge of experiencing a credit-card crisis. According to the Federal Reserve, the total outstanding credit card debt carried by Americans reached a record $951 billion in 2008 -- a number that will only climb higher as more and more people reach for the plastic to make ends meet. What's more, roughly a third of that is debt held by risky borrowers with low credit ratings.

Hot on the heels of the banking crisis, the employment crisis and the mortgage-foreclosure crisis, the country is on the verge of experiencing a credit-card crisis. According to the Federal Reserve, the total outstanding credit card debt carried by Americans reached a record $951 billion in 2008 -- a number that will only climb higher as more and more people reach for the plastic to make ends meet. What's more, roughly a third of that is debt held by risky borrowers with low credit ratings. http://www.ihavenet.com/politics/American-Credit-Card-Crisis.html Dean Mikelis dmikelis084 15 15 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:12218598709914394563-d97704d177f76af792cb4070a5f8fd5b 2009-09-03T08:44:26.764-04:00

Concerns are rising about the potential dangers of prepaid cards by individuals. A recent report by Jun,“Prepaid Cards: Second-Tier Bank Account Substitutes,” faults the cards for poorly disclosed, high, and widely varying fees, arguing the total monthly cost for usage should be capped.

Concerns are rising about the potential dangers of prepaid cards by individuals. A recent report by Jun,“Prepaid Cards: Second-Tier Bank Account Substitutes,” faults the cards for poorly disclosed, high, and widely varying fees, arguing the total monthly cost for usage should be capped. http://prepaidexpo.blogspot.com/2009/08/as-reloadable-cards-increase-concerns.html Yemil Martinez ymartinez849 0 0 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:6839913559046369047-02c6de49a02e809f08bd6a7caa02755e 2009-08-24T09:49:52.214-04:00

Today's mortgage costs are dirt cheap -- if you've got the right FICO rating Without even contacting a credit bureau, Jeana Reed has a pretty good sense of what her credit score is. "It's probably the worst they've ever seen," says Reed, a...

Today's mortgage costs are dirt cheap -- if you've got the right FICO rating Without even contacting a credit bureau, Jeana Reed has a pretty good sense of what her credit score is. "It's probably the worst they've ever seen," says Reed, a... http://www.ihavenet.com/Personal-Finance-9-Ways-to-Salvage-an-Ailing-Credit-Score.html Dean Mikelis dmikelis084 1 1 0 0